By Stephen Hudson. Last Updated 17th June 2025. If you’ve been injured by a dog that was not under proper control, you may be entitled to claim compensation. This guide explains how dog bite claims work in the UK, who may be eligible, and what steps you need to take to start your personal injury claim.
Our team of experienced personal injury solicitors has successfully handled many dog bite compensation claims, including those involving adults, children, and workplace incidents. Whether the injury happened in a public place, on private property, or at work, we’re here to help you understand your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.
To see if you could make a dog bite compensation claim, please get in touch today for a consultation with free legal advice. You can call us on 0800 073 8804 or contact us online by filling in our form or by using our 24/7 live chat service.
Here’s our quick explainer video on what assaults are and how you can claim compensation:
Select a Section
- Understanding The Law Surrounding Dog Bites and Attacks
- Can I Make A Dog Bite Compensation Claim?
- Compensation Payouts In Dog Bite Claims
- Examples and Case Studies
- What Evidence Do I Need?
- How Long Does It Take To Claim For A Dog Bite?
- How Can Legal Expert’s Specialist Dog Bite Solicitors Help Me?
- Useful links
Understanding The Law Around Dog Bites and Attacks
Dog owners have a legal duty to keep their animals under control at all times. When a dog bites or attacks someone, several legal principles may apply, and understanding them is essential if you are thinking about making a compensation claim.
Let’s explain these different laws and their purposes.
The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and Criminal Liability
The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 was introduced due to several incidents involving uncontrolled and aggressive dogs. A dog is considered dangerously out of control if it injures someone or if someone fears it may cause harm. These rules apply to all dogs and cover incidents in private homes as well as in public.
The Act also saw certain dog breeds banned because they are considered too dangerous. These dangerous breeds include:
- Pit Bull Terrier
- Japanese Tosa
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Brasileiro
- XL Bully (added under the expanded law in 2023–2024)
The Animals Act 1971 and Civil Liability
The Animals Act 1971 determines when a dog owner can be held financially responsible for injuries their dog causes.
Under Section 2(2), an owner may be liable even if the dog has never shown aggression before, provided certain conditions are met.
The law requires evidence that the dog had characteristics not normally found in other dogs, or behaved unusually in certain circumstances, which the owner was aware of.
As well as making a claim against a dog owner, in certain situations, claims may be brought against parties, such as:
- Landlords who permitted a dangerous dog on their premises
- Employers, if an attack occurred during work duties
- Public bodies where known dangerous dogs were not dealt with appropriately
What Happens If I Get Bitten By A Stray Dog?
If you were attacked by a stray dog, claiming compensation can be more difficult. There are ways you can go about trying to find the owner. If you have been unable to do so, you may have grounds to claim against the council/local authority or anyone responsible for the area in which you were bit, be it a business park or a local housing estate.
The best thing to do is to call us. That way, we can better understand your dog bite compensation claim and advise you correctly.
Can I Make A Dog Bite Compensation Claim?
To make a successful dog bite compensation claim in the UK, certain eligibility criteria must be met. These criteria help establish that you have grounds to pursue compensation.
To be eligible, another party must be legally responsible for the attack. This may include:
- A dog owner who failed to control their dog in a public or private place
- An employer who exposed you to foreseeable risk while working with or around dogs
- A landlord or property occupier who allowed a dangerous dog on their premises without appropriate precautions
You can only claim compensation if you were physically or psychologically injured as a result of the dog bite. This includes puncture wounds, infections, scarring, or mental trauma such as anxiety or PTSD.
Why not contact us today to find out if you can start a claim for dog bite compensation with our specialist No Win No Fee solicitors? Click the button below to get started.
Is There A Time Limit for Claiming Dog Bite Compensation?
In accordance with the Limitation Act 1980, there is a three-year time limit for starting a dog bite claim. This starts from the date the incident occurred.
If a child has been bitten by a dog, then the time limit for starting a claim will be put on hold until their 18th birthday. Alternatively, a litigation friend, like a parent or guardian, could begin the claims process on their behalf prior to this date.
For more advice on how to make a claim, contact our advisors for free, either online or by calling us.
Compensation Payouts In Dog Bite Claims
If you suffered injuries caused by a dog bite, our compensation calculator could help value them. However, there are various factors that go into dog bite injury claims.
Due to the fact that every claim is assessed individually, knowing the average payout for a dog bite in the UK may not be of any benefit to you. Instead, we have taken the time to explain how compensation is calculated.
Compensation for a dog bite can be awarded under two different heads of loss: general and special damages. These compensate for physical and psychological harm, and financial losses, respectively.
Those assigned the task of determining a potential general damages figure can look at your provided medical evidence alongside the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This publication contains guideline compensation values for various injuries, a relevant selection of which we have used in the table below.
We’d like to emphasise that the top entry is not a JCG figure and that this information has been provided for guidance purposes only.
| Injury | Severeity | Guideline Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple serious injuries and special damages | Severe | Up to £500,000+ |
| Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder | Severe | £73,050 to £122,850 |
| Severe | £28,250 to £73,050 | |
| Hand Injury | Loss of thumb | £43,350 to £66,920 |
| Severe fractures to fingers | Up to £44,840 | |
| Facial disfigurement | Very severe scarring | £36,340 to £118,790 |
| Less severe scarring | £21,920 to £59,090 | |
| Psychiatric Damage Generally | Moderately severe | £23,270 to £66,920 |
| Bodily Scarring | No significant Internal injury | In the region of £10,550 |
If you would like a free estimate on the value of your claim, get in touch with us today by clicking the buttons below.
What Else Can I Claim Compensation For After A Dog Bite?
As part of your compensation payout, you may also receive payments under special damages for any financial losses stemming from the dog bite. In addition to any immediate cost incurred from your injuries, special damages can also be paid out for future losses.
What this means is that payouts made under special damages are often quite a lot higher than those awarded under general damages. We have given a few examples here:
- Loss of earnings.
- Travel costs.
- Out of pocket medical bills.
- Domestic support.
You will need to provide some supporting evidence for these costs, so make sure you hold onto copies of your payslips, travel tickets, invoices for care and any other bills that show what expenses you have incurred.
For a more personalised idea of what your potential dog bite compensation claim could be worth, speak to our advisors using the contact information provided below.
Examples and Case Studies
We have helped many people claim compensation for a dog bite. To give you an idea of the types of cases we’ve dealt with over the years, we’ve provided some anonymised case studies, which you can read here:
Child Bitten by Neighbour’s Dog – £22,000
A 10-year-old boy was bitten on the face by an off-lead Staffordshire Bull Terrier. The injuries required stitches and left permanent scarring. The claim was brought against the dog’s owner, and the child received £22,000 in compensation for pain, suffering, and psychological trauma.
Postal Worker Attacked on Private Property – £18,500
A postal worker delivering mail was bitten on the leg by a German Shepherd that escaped through an unsecured gate. The employer denied liability, but the court found the owner responsible under the Dangerous Dogs Act. The claimant was awarded £18,500, including loss of earnings during recovery.
Dog Bite at Work (Kennel Assistant) – £27,000
A kennel assistant was bitten on the hand while handling an aggressive rescue dog without proper training or equipment. The employer admitted liability under health and safety law. The claimant received £27,000 for soft tissue damage, nerve pain, and long-term impact on manual dexterity.
Jogger Bitten in Public Park – £9,250
A woman jogging in a public park was bitten on the calf by an off-lead dog. Although the dog had no history of aggression, the owner was found liable for failing to control the animal. She received £9,250 in compensation for physical injury and mild psychological distress.
Delivery Driver Attacked Through Vehicle Window – £31,000
A courier driver was bitten on the arm by a guard dog that lunged through a van window at a commercial site. The business had no warning signs or protective measures. The driver claimed against the company and was awarded £31,000 for physical injuries and permanent scarring.
What Evidence Do I Need?
Proving a dog bite claim works just like any other personal injury claim. You will need to show that you were injured by the dog and that the dog was dangerously out of control when the bite occurred.
Some of the best pieces of evidence you can gather include:
- Photographs: photograph your injuries as well as the dog if you can. If the dog in question is a banned breed in the UK, this will certainly help you in proving liability.
- CCTV footage: video footage of the incident can be used not only to show what happened, but also that a dog was dangerously out of control when the bite occurred.
- Witness testimony: anyone who saw the dog bite you such as other park goers or anyone you were with could provide a witness statement. Make sure you have their details so they can be contacted during the claims process.
- Details of the insurer: a dog bite claim is made against the owner’s pet insurance. Be sure you have this information.
We’ve also summarised this into a handy infographic:
To get support with collecting evidence or to ask further questions about the average compensation for a dog bite, talk to our advisors for a free assessment of your eligibility today.
How Long Does It Take To Claim For A Dog Bite?
How long it takes to claim for a dog bite depends on the circumstances surrounding your claim. Factors could include:
- Whether you can settle the claim outside of court
- The court schedule (if your claim goes to court)
- Whether the defending party accepts liability for the dog bite injury
- The amount of evidence you need and how long it takes to acquire it
- The severity of your injuries and their associated costs
- Whether you have fully recovered from your injuries (if you have not recovered, it could be more difficult to assess the future impact of your injuries)
All dog bite claims are assessed individually. Legal professionals may need time to examine your evidence and the nature of your injuries, especially in more complex cases. No two claims are the same, so your experience of a claim could be completely different from that of another claimant.
If you have any concerns about starting a claim for dog bite compensation, please contact our team of experienced advisors. They can explain the process in further detail and discuss the specific nature of your claim. Additionally, they can offer you a free case assessment to evaluate what your potential compensation may cover.
How Can Legal Expert’s Specialist Dog Bite Solicitors Help Me?
We always recommend working with a solicitor when you make any kind of personal injury claim. Even though it’s not a mandatory step, seeking expert legal advice from experienced dog bite solicitors can make a huge difference to your claim.
This is because solicitors go through years of training before they qualify, and this gives them extensive knowledge of the dog bite claims process. They can explain each step of the way, and give you the peace of mind that comes with knowing what to expect.
A solicitor can also help you support your claim with evidence, prepare your case for trial if necessary, and negotiate the settlement that you deserve.
Our solicitors can do all of this on a No Win No Fee basis by offering you a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). Under this kind of agreement, you get all the services of an expert solicitor without:
- Paying for them upfront
- Paying for them as the claim is ongoing
- Paying for them at all if the claim fails
If your dog bite compensation claim succeeds, you’ll pay a legally capped amount of your compensation to your solicitor as their success fee.
Contact Us
Our team of friendly advisors are here to help. When you get in touch, they can offer you a free consultation. This means that they can answer questions you have about the dog bite claims process and can tell you whether or not you may have a valid claim. If you do, then they may help you get in contact with one of our expert dog bite claim solicitors.
To get started just click a button below.
Useful links
Government website on controlling your dog in public
This link takes you to the UK Government’s guide on controlling your dog in public. It provides useful information on banned dogs, Public Spaces Protection Orders, dog fouling, and reporting a dog.
Government website on dangerous dog law changes
This link is useful, as it takes you to a press release that explains the changes in the law regarding dangerous dogs. In 2013, the law changed to cover dog attacks on private properties. You can find more information here.
This link takes you to the human, animal, and dog bite NHS page. It explains what to do after a bite, getting medical advice/treatment, infection symptoms, common causes and avoiding bites.
If you want to report a stray dog, use this link to do so. You can use the search function to find a postcode to contact the dog’s owner. If you do not know the dog’s owner, you need to contact your local council.
If you would like to speak to an advisor about dog bite claims for compensation, get in touch with us for free today.
